Monfils soars to open last Monte Carlo Masters with win over flailing Griekspoor

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griekspoor-tallon/f3zfMU5i/"]Tallon Griekspoor[/a] got off to a hot start with a flawless service game to open and a strong return game, in which the Dutchman broke [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-gael/fm7G8o0m/"]Gaël Monfils[/a] with a stunning passing shot. Monfils swiftly responded and got back to 2-2 following poor serves from Griekspoor and a stellar service game from the retiring Frenchman.[/p][p]Monfils continued a strong first set and reached break point on love as Griekspoor was losing the plot, allowing Monfils to go on a 12-1 points run and take a 3-2 lead at record pace. As it looked like Griekspoor had regrouped as he took a 40-0 lead, Monfiels fought back once again and erased the lead with four straight points. The experienced Frenchman prevailed with a superior service game, erasing a staggering eight break points to take a two-game lead.[/p][embed guid="73bc56bb-71ea-4be2-9784-06949f9b657c" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2040816051189883307?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]After Griekspoor levelled the set at four games apiece and Monfils attempted a trademark tweener in the following game, the pair exchanged service games to force a 12-game opening set. Griekspoor struggled with his service, hitting just 50% after 10 games, and reached 20 unforced errors in the eleventh.[/p][p]The ensuing tiebreak was close to getting wrapped up by Griekspoor, who looked to profit from a late double fault from Monfils, but failed to stay ahead after a failed stop volley. The Dutchman hit his very first ace of the afternoon after his mistake, but squandered a second set point. Another double fault from Monfils helped Griekspoor take the lead again and win the set after 63 minutes.[/p][h2]Monfils takes over[/h2][p]Following a short medical break that Griekspoor requested for his shoulder, Monfils stormed into the lead by winning three consecutive games before giving away his first. [i]La Monf[/i] dominated the seconds, leaving Griekspoor in the dust as he dominated the Dutchman in every aspect of the game.[/p][p]A double fault in his final service game set Griekspoor up for disaster, as Monfils paraded to a 6-1 set lead and forced a deciding third set.[/p][image alt="Tallon Griekspoor (top) and Gaël Monfils battle on the clay of Monte Carlo" id="55b8148d-4825-4f0b-93f1-a4453dd02706" credit-line="Photo by JULIAN FINNEY / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP" guid="0ab0fd3b-7d2a-4d26-b7b0-00d184922a07" original-width="4824" original-height="3216" /][p]Griekspoor opened the third set similarly to how he played the second and conceded an early break point, but turned his luck around with a couple of strong forehands. The Dutchman was struggling with Monfils' service, scoring just five return points in eleven games between the start of the second set and the 2-2 in the third.[/p][h2]Griekspoor nearly mounts surreal comeback[/h2][p]Monfils took another lead when he broke a flailing Griekspoor, who was closing in on 50 unforced errors, on love to go up 3-2. A stellar forehand set Monfils up to take a 4-2 lead as well, edging him ever so close to becoming the oldest match winner at the Monte Carlo Masters in history.[/p][p]An overhit forehand earned Monfils a double-break lead over Griekspoor, who mounted one last comeback to break Monfils on love and grab his first break since the first set, after which the Dutchman finally hit a first serve to cut Monfils' lead to just one game. Griekspoor forced another break point as Monfils seemed caught off guard, but had to concede after all, as a mishit earned Monfils a historic win.[/p][p]With his first-round win 21 years after his debut in Monaco, Gaël Monfils became the oldest match winner in Monte Carlo Masters history.[/p][p]In his final Monte Carlo Masters, Monfils will face Alexander Bublik in the second round.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/griekspoor-t-f3zfMU5i/monfils-g-fm7G8o0m/?mid=Is5nVZZ8"]Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="26e44e6a-01b1-4fbe-9ae8-a9f28071785e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="54a252c6-c5e8-4f4a-9793-45d80171435f" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]